Brad Meltzer's bold, outlandish plots out- Da Vinci Code "The Da Vinci Code." His novels revolve around secrets so important that the United States itself would be in peril if not for the help of a plucky ordinary person caught up in machinations beyond his ken.

Nicolas Cage movies have been based on far less. But Meltzer infuses his audacious plots with believability thanks to meticulous research and likable, realistic characters.

Meltzer's ability to expound on a historical footnote shines as his eighth novel, "The Inner Circle," delves into secret spy rings, political conspiracies and a behind-the-scenes look at the National Archives.

Lonely archivist Beecher White attempts to impress Clementine Kaye, his childhood crush, by showing her the special room reserved for the President Orson Wallace during a tour of the National Archives. But the tour quickly becomes – and you knew this was coming – a matter of national security when the pair find a 200-year-old dictionary that may have been used by George Washington to communicate with the Culper Ring, his secret spy organization. The Culper Ring, which did exist, may have been used by scores of presidents to find secret information to protect the United States.

Before Bleecher and Clementine can decide what to do with the book, a security guard is found dead and they are being stalked by members of the present-day Culper Ring. Ostensibly, Clementine had contacted her old friend, Bleecher, in hopes that the National Archives would hold a clue to her long-lost father, who, adding to the complications, turns out to be a mental patient who tried to assassinate President Wallace.

In "The Inner Circle," Meltzer skillfully shows that conspiracy theories aren't a modern invention. The author weaves in well-known historical facts with lesser-known details and even humorous mistakes housed in the National Archives.

As an archivist, Bleecher also makes a credible detective, as he is accustomed to ferreting out information and keeping secrets for a living. Naïve and trusting, Bleecher has built his world around routine and order. "Most archivists don't like surprises," he says. "That's why we work in the past. But as history teaches me every day, the best way to avoid being surprised is to be prepared." Bleecher will find a crash course in surprises and betrayal in "The Inner Circle."

Meltzer, who lives in Fort Lauderdale, spares no historical accuracy in his briskly paced eighth novel. Currently, Meltzer is tackling numerous historical legends in "Brad Meltzer's Decoded" airing Thursdays on the History Channel.